Rafia Haider
BEIJING, July 20 (APP): Ministry of Environmental Protection,
Peoples Republic of China has established a close cooperation mechanism with its counterparts in Pakistan so as to ensure that international standards with regard to environment safety are duly complied with in
implementation of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
Director Li Xue, General Office, Department of Air Environment Management and Ms. Ma Muye, Division of Asia Affairs, Department of International Cooperation of the China’s Environmental Protection Ministry talking to a group of South Asian journalists currently attending a program organized by China Public Diplomacy Association said close bilateral cooperation with Pakistan was in process with regard to pollution control and prevention of environmental degradation in the work related to ‘one belt one road initiative.’
It was said to be in the larger interest of the peoples of the
two countries as well as for viability of the schemes that extreme care was being taken for the protection of environment, in the areas concerned, with equal care towards safeguarding all relevant aspects including soil, air and water resources.
Director Bai Zhijun of the Environmental Protection Ministry,
Lian Wei, Division of Drinking Water Department of Environmental Management and Ms. Huang Yian representing China ASEAN Environment Cooperation Center, also present on the occasion, said the ministry was equally keen to enter into close cooperation with all South Asian countries for joint efforts in controlling pollution and preventing possible harm to environment in the region.
The officials on the occasion also extensively discussed series of measures being implemented for the prevention of air pollution as well as safety of water resources in China.
Dispelling the impression that these were adopted owing to any external pressure, they said the Government of Peoples Republic was absolutely committed towards the health security of its people and for the purpose, five year action plan for prevention of air pollution (2013 2017) and another 15 year prevention of water pollution (2015 2030) have been formulated on the basis of WHO recommendations as well as those of other reputable international agencies.
In reply to a question, they said local governments scattered
across more than 30 provinces of the country alongwith autonomous regions and so forth were also part of the efforts and a stringent policy has been adopted for optimum possible compliance of the two action plans.
An innovation, they said has been adopted for meaningful enforcement of the action plans and for the purpose local as well as national media have been actively involved along with other stakeholders incuding the residents of the concerned areas.
“We share reports of assessments, conducted on regular basis, with the media and hence a pressure is put on the implementers as well as violators of the law,” said the officials mentioning that consequently a significant decline has been registered in the pollution levels in different parts of the country.
